Thursday, April 2, 2009

Some Positivity, in Relative Terms

Just for argument's sake, not to celebrate the missteps or bad fortunes of others, a quote:

Once hopeful of a return in April, the Cardinals now say they will be without third baseman Troy Glaus for more than the season's first two months and can not guarantee his return before the All-Star break.

How lame is it that I want to write Scott Rolen and just say thanks? I've written to an athlete twice in my life, once to Stan Musial when I was a kid (he signed a card... I lost it) and couple years back I wrote to Al Lamacchia.

I never understood why John McDonald inspired so many boners based on his defense-only game--until I saw Scott Rolen play like a fucking Cybernetic Third Basemen from Hell. He's a Motherfucker and he'd hit like one if he hadn't taken that shrapnel hit during the war. I'd dutifully bear his children if I carried a vag, but will gladly accept being in the same dome as him as consolation until Medical Science crosses those boundaries.

Stolen bases are really only valuable if you're playing for one run (i.e. Dave Roberts, 2004 ALCS).

Unless you can do it at a high rate of success, you're playing fast and loose with your valuable outs.

Baseball is clearly favoring guys that can do it all, hit for power, run and field. Alex Rios's ability to steal bases merely enhances his superlative abilities at all facets of the game. A one trick stolen bag pony is no more valuable (less so, in fact) that a Matt Stairs type of Three Out Guy, without the on base.